Children, early reading and a literate Australia Strempel, Deputy Chair PLA brain development in very young children, from a few weeks old, is massive; reading to them, sharing pictures and reading, etc is essential; especially linking sounds to signs. This is not just something to do at schools or at home. [interestingly, the formal schooling system starts too late to make a difference, in many cases - 5 or 6 - , placing significant burdens on parents; who supports them in that? libraries is one of the few social institutions; some research to show first year at school is critical for intervention, implicitly, better to reduce needs for intervention] Suggests the role of library in actively promoting literacy is not well recognised; suggests the competence of librarians in doing this is also not recognised. Librarians with interest in this field are facilitators and educators as well as librarians. None of this literacy work is mainstreamed and poor resources; no national agenda or standards for equity. Mentions the Early Big Book Club (SA), Better Beginnings (WA) as excellent examples [ key role in creating successful ‘families’ – some skills, technology etc not available in some families – libraries provide this on … Click to read more →

Libraries and Social Inclusion Jan Richards, ALIA President 1500 public libraries; 8 state networks; national collaborative programs; 8200 library staff; 50% of Australians are library members; many non-members visit too; over 90% of Australians see libraries as a good thing; 111 million visit annually; 183 million loans; 10 million questions; 7000 internet-accessing PCs; budget is $757 million (stats from 2007-2008) Why do people come to libraries? interviews with library users and quotes from library ambassadors – fair and equitable society via libraries – free, welcoming social spaces for all; non-judgmental spaces; people treated equally; place of creativity; finding information is fundamentally democratic – critical importance of libraries for education, internet access, and especially the link between net and learning. Continued emphasis from the users – computers, internet. – cost – borrowing books, doing things for free at libraries vitally important for poorer families “How do we build on all this community goodwill?” Big ideas: important for libraries across australia to be united; common goals, shared practice, be part of community, universality and freedom of access, future generations – need new librarians in future, more sustainable library infrastructure, valuing what we do / standards [Subtheme always concerning online information: libraries can … Click to read more →

Opening Address to Public Libraries Summit, Canberra, 2009 Hon Ursula Stephens, Parliamentary Sec for Social Inclusion Impressive: clearly committed and passionate, not patronising, limited spin Cites UK futurist Richard Watson: his transformation of thought from pessimism about libraries (the internet will replace them) to optimism – because of their role in giving people access to the net, spaces in which to use these resources, especially with others. Libraries “connect people with the outside world”; they are not the quiet places for borrowing books of the 1970s; you do things in libraries now. “Libraries are hubs for community life”; “neutral safe spaces”; this is a response to the “challenge of the information age” [implicitly, the info age challenges libraries because of the reorganisation of social structures for access to information for those not actually purchasing it]. It is also important to recognise value of librarians to civil society. [Interesting emphasis on relationship between libraries and learning - Stephens is an educator] Social inclusion agenda, (Rudd Labor Government): “capability and capacity for all Australians to learn, to work, to engage and have a voice” – leads to a rich civil society. [There’s a link here to UK – talking about focus on … Click to read more →